Sylvya Stevenson founded the National Congress of Black Women–Kansas City Chapter in 2013; it is an affiliate of the National Congress of Black Women, which was founded by the late Representative Shirley Chisholm, who was the first Black woman to be elected to The United States Congress. The organization offers affordable memberships for Black women and girls ages 13 and older, provides year-round voter registration, partners with other groups to do outreach to voters and potential voters, and makes scholarships available to high school seniors, college students, and adults. Two signature events are held each year: the Annual Women and Girls Torch Carriers Conference and the Annual Scholarship and Awards Black Tie Gala. The Conference is a community event featuring opportunities to hear from community leaders and to learn about a variety of topics including education and career training. The Black Tie Gala is a celebration of the organization’s anniversary – 2023 marks 10 years – and is its primary fundraising event. As Sylvya Stevenson noted, “Membership exposes women and girls to community engagement activities and creates a sisterhood.” Volunteers are encouraged to become Friends of NCBW by signing up as corporate sponsors or individual sponsors.
Kathryn Bell, treasurer; Layla Swanson, youth member; Erika Taylor, Brenda Baker, historian; and RaeShaun Williams
Janae Swanson, recording secretary; Shirley Stevenson, founding member; Sakeena Abdul-Haqq, Sylvya Stevenson, founder, chief executive officer, and president; City Council Member Ryana Parks-Shaw, Shekita Robinson, and Celeste Chaney-Tucker, vice president
Scholarship Recipients: Bertha Hampton, Donnelly College; Zuri Primos, Lincoln College Preparatory Academy; Ofelia Luna, East High School/Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City; Lydia McReynolds, The Pembroke Hill School; and MarKili Leavy, Central High School
Featured in the March 18, 2023 issue of The Independent.
Learn more at NCBWKansasCity.org.
